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Describe your first day at school.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

  • When & where did you go to?
  • What happened there?
  • How did you feel on that day?
Show all 183 answers

Cue 1:When & where did you go to?

  • Begin by mentioning the name of the school and its location to set the context.
  • Include the date or year to give a sense of time and personal significance.

Example

I started my first day at St. Xavier's School in Mumbai in June 2005. It was a bright sunny morning, and I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I stepped into the school premises for the very first time.

Cue 2:What happened there?

  • Describe the activities that took place during your first day, such as meeting teachers and classmates.
  • Mention any memorable events or interactions that stood out to you.

Example

On that day, I was introduced to my class teacher, Mrs. Sharma, who was very welcoming. We had a brief orientation session where I met my classmates. I vividly remember playing games during recess, which helped break the ice and made me feel more comfortable.

Cue 3:How did you feel on that day?

  • Share your emotions and thoughts throughout the day, highlighting any changes in your feelings.
  • Reflect on how the experience shaped your view of school and learning.

Example

Initially, I felt anxious about fitting in, but as the day progressed, I started to feel more at ease. By the end of the day, I was filled with joy and anticipation for what the rest of the school year would bring.

Conclusion

  • Summarize your overall experience and its impact on your life.
  • Mention how that first day influenced your attitude towards school in general.

Example

Looking back, my first day at school was a pivotal moment in my life. It not only marked the beginning of my education but also taught me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone. That day laid the foundation for many wonderful friendships and learning experiences.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Avoid Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your response less engaging and informative. Specific details help the examiner understand your experience better.

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Tip

Include specific details about the location, activities, and people you encountered on your first day to create a vivid picture.

2: Don't Rush Your Response

Speaking too quickly can lead to unclear communication and missed details. It's important to pace yourself for better clarity.

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Tip

Take a moment to organize your thoughts before speaking, and practice speaking slowly to ensure your ideas are conveyed clearly.

Neglecting Emotions

Failing to express your feelings can make your answer less relatable. Emotions add depth to your story and engage the listener.

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Tip

Share how you felt during your first day, whether it was excitement, nervousness, or joy, to connect with the examiner on a personal level.

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IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

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Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.
Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

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Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.
Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

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Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.
Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

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Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.
Describe a book you recently read
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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

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CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

Band >7

My first day of school was when I was merely three years old. Although I do not remember how my first day of school was like because I was quite young, I do recall from a picture that my father showed me a few years ago. The picture depicted a small girl who was crying in her father's arms, which was me. Therefore, I believe that the first day of school was quite a task for me because I was not the happiest. I was pretty disappointed and I was howling. However, in 2020, I changed my school and I now go to the British school in Janakipuri. Back then, four years ago, I remember that my first day of school was online since it was a COVID year. Meeting people and making new friends in person itself was quite a daunting experience for me and doing it online became even a further challenge. Nonetheless, I explored my way through this online school and discovered new people, learning about their interests and hobbies, which made me feel really connected to them because the people were very amiable and kind. Moreover, when I first entered school, which was a few months after I joined, I remember it being pretty amazing and I remember being quite elated because I was very happy to meet my friends whom I had only met online. It was overall a really great experience because I overcame my challenges and fears about being in a new school and meeting new people.

Band 7

I still remember my first day at school very vividly, even though it happened many years ago. I was around 5 years old and my parents took me to a small primary school near our house. To be honest, I was both excited and nervous at the same time because it was the first time I was leaving the comfort of home and entering a new complete environment. The moment I walked into the classroom, everything felt strange. The smell of chalk, the colorful charts on the walls and neatly arranged desks. My teacher welcomed me with a warm smile, which made me feel a little more comfortable. I sat next to a boy who later became one of my closest friends and I still remember how we exchanged crayon to break the ice. At first, I cried a little because I saw other children crying too, but gradually the fear turned into curiosity. We were given small tasks like learning how to hold a pencil properly and drawing simple shapes. What fascinated me most was the playground. During the break, I ran around with other kids and for the first time, I felt a sense of belonging outside my family. Looking back, my first day at school was the turning point. It taught me how to adapt a new situation and interact with strangers. Even though it started with tears, it ended with laughter. And that memory still reminds me that every new beginning feels uncomfortable at first, but can turn into something meaningful.

Band 7

I remember my first day at school. It was when I was this little toddler who barely knew a few words. It was B group, the class I used to go to. It was kind of a fun and horrible experience at the same time. I went up to the school with my mom. My mom left me in the class and she left. I was all alone in the class, scared, agitated and annoyed. I cried a lot. I cried a lot that day. Gradually, things got better. I made new friends and school life became my favorite. My school was a co-curricular English medium school. It used to follow the British curriculum. The name of my school is Sire International School. The most interesting thing is I have been going to the school since B group till my E levels. The entire time I was in the same school. School was my life. I still remember my school days and I have nothing but good memories in my heart. My school days were amazing. I still remember the days I used to play football on the field, open grass and beautiful skies. Nothing to worry about, just good times with my friends. My school had some amazing teachers as well. The teachability was so good. It was great. It was just like family. They used to teach me and every other student just like their own. I was a good football player back in the days. I used to play a lot of football. I got a few awards playing football back in the days. It was my life. I graduated in the year 2016. It was a very amazing year. We were at high school and the entire school was there.

Band 7

On my first day of school, I remember being very nervous. If I have to describe myself, nervousness isn't an adjective I would associate myself with, even as a 5-year-old. I had packed my bag, ironed my school uniform a day prior because I was trembling with excitement. We used to live in a defence establishment which was located 15 km away from the school. Thus, we had a bus to pick us up and drop us at the school. My mother was a teacher in the same premises, therefore, I wasn't completely unfamiliar with my new surroundings. As soon as I stepped foot inside my school, I realised that this is going to be my home for the next 12 years. This is going to be a place where I'll make friends, which later would become my family. I've realised that this school will give me opportunities that I could not have imagined. When I went into the class, I saw a couple of familiar faces that I had known from before school that put me at ease. However, soon I realised that I was good at making friends. I did not feel alienated in these new surroundings. I got to know how we can deal and communicate with people who have different ideas than us. All in all, it was a good experience.

Band 7

It was back in 2004. The name of my school was Cameron Hall situated in cantonment area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. I was very nervous at first to enter the school as it was a different setting altogether. In contrast to staying back at home at the comfort of my house under the security of my parents, this was a new environment where I entered and was in the company of strange people who I had not met before. The very first day I remember was filled with instances of me introducing myself to my classmates. I remember I made a few friends on the first day itself and slowly and steadily that dwelled into becoming very strong friendships that I held over the span of next 20-30 years as well. I remember my first class teacher was ma'am Sushma who used to teach us English and I still have very fond memories of learning and absorbing the lessons that she shared with us on a daily basis. I feel that the break time was also very helpful where I got to meet my friends in a more informal setting. We played together some sports and very quickly the break was over. During the break, we also shared our food with each other and post that we got back to our regular studies. At the end, I left, my mom had come to pick me up and I shared all my experience with her.

Band 7

I still remember the first day of my school, both of my parents were with me and we went to my school which is placed in Vile Parle East, Mumbai. We went to my school at about 10.30 in the morning and I was holding both of my parents' hands and I was observing everyone. Few of the students were crying, some of them were just standing there hugging their parents and I was just confused because the day before that I was extremely excited to go and attend school. I was packing my bag with all the things necessary for school but when the day arrived, I was little bit scared, it was mixed of emotions. I was little scared, little happy and mostly excited. I was holding on to my parents' hands tightly and I was looking at them. When my mom bent down, she kissed my forehead and she told me that don't worry, everything will be fine, you will have a good time in your school and my dad just picked me up, he hugged me, he kissed me on the cheek and he told me that enjoy your school, study well, have fun and don't cry and that was it. I still remember my first day as it was yesterday.

Band 7

I vividly remember my first day at school. It was an experience filled with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of nervousness. I must have been around four years old and my school was a quaint little place with colorful walls, a cheerful atmosphere, and a wall welcoming staff. The day began with my parents walking me into the classroom. I recall holding on tightly to my mother's hand, reluctant to let go. As the environment was entirely unfamiliar, the teacher, however, greeted me with a big smile and a soft voice, which immediately made me feel at ease. She introduced me to a group of children who were busy playing with blocks and drawing pictures. Although I was shy at first place, I soon found myself joining them. One of the highlights of that day was assembly. It was the first time I saw so many children gathered together, singing a song and listening to stories. It was a surreal moment that made me feel like I was a part of a larger community. Later, we were given colorful crayons and a sheet of paper to draw whatever we liked. I remember sketching a house with a garden and being so proud of my artwork that I showed it to my teacher, who praised me warmly. Lunchtime was another memorial experience. I sat at a small table with my classmates, sharing stories and snacks.

Band 6-7

I completed my high school in Woodbury Minnesota USA. When I was there in US I am a pretty new citizen from India. I did my high school in Woodbury Minnesota USA. I was so excited and overwhelmed to see the high school and students and my fellow meds because I was a random new kid from India recently traveled or came to US. So I was very excited and pretty much everything was new for me. The way they talk, the way the dress, the culture, the food, the people, everybody are different and it was different to me. I was very surprised to see and was very excited for seeing that. During my first day in high school my counselor guided me for each classes. In US they had like for each hard you have to travel to different classes to meet the student and to meet the teacher and then like study the lessons or listen to the lessons. It was a very different from the way of schooling in India. It was more disciplined and we had to wear uniforms and carry books every day to school in India and it's completely different in USA. So I was feeling very happy that I'm experiencing these stuff very early and I really like the new environment, the change that I had chance to experience. My teachers and counselors were very sweet to me and they guided me well. Within two or six months I got adapted to that place and in that particular place called Minnesota, it snowed much. I loved snow and I started to adapt to the climate and people and now I love the place.

Band 6-7

Education is the right as well as privilege for children and I am someone who was lucky enough to go to school. So my school basically located in my village only. So I was super excited on the very first day. Like every typical child, I had a dream to step in. I also have butterflies in my stomach, somehow I managed. I was very curious because I thought the first day of my school, the inspiration that I will get will be everlasting and it will always inspire me to achieve more, to choose the career path. So these are my expectations. These are some wild expectations and I had no idea to make friends because I am quite scared because it is unknown for us to pick up friends in a very first instance. Since I am an introvert, I need time to make friends, but I personally believe myself is a friend to me and my heavenly father, that is the beauteous thing.

Band 6-7

I would like to describe the first day of my school on 10th standard, where I just changed the school and I started to go for a new one, where I don't know anyone over there and it was my first day and I just entered the class where I can't, I am seeing the students who were watching me like the person who they don't know and they are watching me like who is this guy, in the doubted manner. Once I entered the class, I sat in the first bench at the corner where I was a bit nervous because I don't know anyone over there, the place was new to me and I just started introducing myself with one by one over there and I just started a conversation with them so that I can able to make some friends. But at the first day itself, it won't possible, I know, but still I tried to introduce myself to them so that they can able to think that he is a kind of friend. It just started new here and we can just go and we can just talk to him so that he can be comfortable here and that was happened to me and it is not that memorizing so I can able to proceed further after that by making our friends one by one and it was a kind of thing where I can able to complete myself.
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